Microsoft Hints at Unified, Mobile-Centric Windows OS for the Future

Speaking at last week's UBS Global Technology Conference, Microsoft executive vice president, Devices and Studios, Julie Larson-Green said it is not possible for the company to continue offering three disparate versions of Windows operating system.

Currently, the three versions of Windows OS are Windows Phone, Windows RT and Windows. Microsoft's executive vice president Larson-Green said that the company cannot afford to continue offering three such versions of Windows. She mentioned that Windows RT was Microsoft's attempt to create a "turnkey, closed" system where it offers an upgraded user experience beyond that of common consumer electronic devices. At the same time, Windows RT aims to create a simplified Windows user experience where one can access productivity applications like Office, without the need for a full-fledged desktop OS.

ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley wrote that Microsoft was thinking of creating a new variant OS to merge Windows RT and Windows Phone. Hence, in the near future, it is very likely that there will only be two versions of Windows; one Windows for x86 devices, the other is aimed at ARM-based devices. Click here for the full transcript of Ms. Julie Larson-Green's presentation at the UBS Global Technology Conference.